Aminoglutethimide
 
Trade Names:
Cytadren, Elipten
Type of Drug:
Aminoglutethimide belongs to a class of hormone and hormone-blocking drugs called adrenal steroid inhibitors. It is used to treat some cancers, including breast cancer.
How Drug Works:
Aminoglutethimide prevents the body’s adrenal glands from making steroid hormones, including estrogen.
How Drug Is Given:
Aminoglutethamide is a pill taken by mouth. The starting dose is small and gradually increased. Take the daily dose in 2 to 3 divided doses, with meals. Your doctor will also give you a prescription for a steroid hormone like hydrocortisone that you must take with the aminoglutethimide. Keep the medicine in a tightly closed container and out of the reach of children and pets.
How Should I Take This Drug?
Take this drug exactly as directed by your doctor. If you do not understand the instructions, ask your doctor or nurse to explain them to you. This drug can be given at different strengths depending on the type of cancer being treated. Dosage may vary depending on your weight and your type of cancer.
Read the following information. If you do not understand it or if any of it causes you special concern, check with your doctor.

Before taking this drug, tell your doctor:

  • If you are trying to become pregnant, are pregnant, or breastfeeding. This drug may cause birth defects if either the male or female is taking it at the time of conception or during pregnancy. Men and women who are taking this drug need to use some kind of birth control. However, do not use oral contraceptives (“the pill”) without checking with your doctor.

  • If you think you may want to have children in the future. Many chemotherapy drugs can cause sterility.

  • If you have any of the following medical problems: chickenpox or exposure to chickenpox, gout, heart disease, congestive heart failure, shingles, kidney stones, liver disease, or other forms of cancer.

  • If you are taking any other prescription or over-the-counter drugs, including vitamins and herbals.
Should I avoid any other medicines, foods, alcohol, and/or activities?
Your prescription and nonprescription medicines may interact with other drugs, causing harm. Certain foods or alcohol can also interact with drug products. Never begin taking a new medicine—prescription or nonprescription—without asking your doctor or nurse if it will interact with alcohol, food, or other medicines. Some drug products can cause drowsiness and affect activities such as driving.
Precautions:
Aminoglutethimide must be taken together with hydrocortisone. Without this additional medicine, you might have nausea, loss of appetite, tiredness, dizziness, weakness, difficulty breathing, and pain in the joints (due to too little corticosteroids in the body).
A skin rash may develop, but it usually goes away within 1 to 2 weeks. Notify your doctor if the rash does not go away by the second week.
Do not take this drug if you are pregnant.
Tell all the doctors, dentists, and pharmacists you visit that you are taking this drug.
  • Most of the following side effects probably will not occur.
  • Your doctor or nurse will want to discuss specific care instructions with you.
  • They can help you understand these side effects and help you deal with them.
Side Effects:
More Common Side Effects
  • Skin rash, together with malaise, low grade fever
Less Common Side Effects
  • Drowsiness
  • Lack of energy
  • Sleepiness
  • Blurred vision
  • Dizziness when standing or turning around
  • Mild nausea
  • Mild vomiting
  • Mild loss of appetite
Rare Side Effects
  • Rhythmic eye movements
  • Uncoordinated gait when walking
  • Lowered blood pressure
Other side effects not listed above can also occur in some patients. Tell your doctor or nurse if you develop any problems.
FDA Approval: This drug is approved for cancer treatment.